Time for reform is now, Freedom Riders say

Five days after they left the Twin Cities, Minnesota Freedom Riders completed the last leg of their journey Monday with a march to downtown Minneapolis and a rally to call attention to the need for immigration reform.

During their bus trip across the state, immigrants and their supporters highlighted the economic and cultural contributions immigrants make in Minnesota, publicized discrimination that immigrants face in the state, and promoted national reform of immigration and workers rights laws. A major theme was participating in the political process during this election year, by registering and voting.

The ride made stops in Winona, Rochester, Owatonna, Worthington, Moorhead, Pelican Rapids and Willmar. On Monday, riders marched from Sagrado Corazon (Sacred Heart) Church in south Minneapolis to the Government Plaza downtown.

Elected officials joined the riders at Monday’s rally to pledge their solidarity.

“These people are leaders,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, the only Latino member of the state Legislature. “They are your neighbors. They believe in democracy. They are your brothers and sisters.”

Freedom Riders celebrated the end of their journey with a rally in downtown Minneapolis Monday.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak stated his strong support of the city’s INS separation ordinance, which has been under attack by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and others who want city workers to enforce immigration laws. Supporters of the ordinance say immigrants must feel free to report crimes and work with police and other city employees without fear.

“We have been asked to have our police get involved in immigration issues,” Rybak told the crowd. “We will not do that!”

Tannis Ybarra, international secretary-treasurer of the United Farm Workers union, applauded the efforts of the Freedom Riders.

“The immigrant fight is a fight all of us need to engage in,” he said.

Eliseo Medina, international vice president of the Service Employees International Union, connected the effort for immigration reform to this year’s elections.

“Brothers and sisters, we need to make sure that on Nov. 2, everyone comes out to vote like their future depends on it — because it does,” he said. “Staying home is not an option. Staying home means you are giving someone else the power to decide your future.”